Device for advertising and like purposes



Nov. 1, 1938.

R. T. RlcHEs ET A1. v 2,135,412

DEVICE FOR ADVERTISING AND LIKE PURPOSES Filed July 7, 1937 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INvENTs Rom-:RICK fr. RIGHES GQOFPREY H. RIGHES By@Wy/9mm A'ITCRNEYS LNVENTcRs RODERICK T. RIGHES' GEQFFREY H, RICHESNov'. 1, 1938. R. T. RlcHEs ET`A1.

DEVICE FOR ADVERTISING AND LIKE PURPOSES Nov. 1, 1938. R. T. RICHES ETAL DEVICE FOR ADVERTISING AND LIKE PURPOSES Filed July 7, 1937 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT CR S dit) Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UfNirEo STAT ENTOF'FIJQE.

DEVICE FOR ADVERTISINGAND'LIKE PUR,-A

' POSES Application July 7,- 1937,- Serial No. 152,432 I-Great-BlritainJuly 8, 1936 9 v Claims.

and: arranged to be projected in succession rinto a visible position byautomatically operated means.

According to another aspect of the invention the improved apparatusVcomprises a frame-work or casing and a number of lettersv or deviceswhich are independently mounted and are arranged to be oscillated insuccession into a visible position through an opening or openings byautomatically operated means.

In carrying the invention into effect according to the preferred form'the improved apparatus comprises a, casing, a framework having thereinone or morelouvred openings, a number of vindependently mounted elementscapable of bearing lettering and automatically operated means formovingsaid elements successively through the said openings into visiblepositions and for removing all of said elements simultaneously to aninvisible position after the complete statement has been exposed.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawingsWhich'illustrate'by Wayof example, several forms of advertisingapparatus constructed according to the invention and in Which:-

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a formof apparatus in which thelevers bearing the lettering' are actuated by an endless belt,

Figure 2 is a sectional end view of Fig. 1',

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of another form of the invention inwhich thev levers bearing f the lettering are actuated by rotary cams,

Figure i-is a sectional end View of Fig. 3, Figure 5 isa plan View ofFig. 3, Figure 6 is a sectional end View of afurther modification inwhich a plurality of sets of lettering are actuated by a common rotarycam,

Figure 7 is a sectionalendV view of another form of the invention inwhich several horizontal series ofi lettering are mounted inl acommon irate rotary cam,

Figure8 is a sectional end Viewv of a further form'of the apparatus inwhich the lettersy forming the sign are arranged vertically and Figure 9is a'plan View of Fig. 8.

Referring first to the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, theapparatus comprises a casing I having a front glass panel 3, the frontportion of the casing` containing a numberY of horizontal louvresZ, theadjacentedges of which are so spacedI that to the observer only a verynarrow opening exists between them;

Behind the louvre framework are a number of levers or arms -4 pivotallymounted on transverse spindles 5 and each formed with or constructed tocarry a' plate 6 on which aA letter or device is marked. The spindles 5are so-disposed thatl the plate 6 can be projected toa Vvisible positionin front of one of the louvres and retracted to an invisible positionbehind the next upper louvre. For the purpose of rocking the arms 4,each is provided with a tail or extension 1, which carries a roller 8adaptedto be engaged'` by a travelling belt 9 guided on drums or pulleysI0 and driven by an electric motor Il. The belt is arranged to bearfromabove upon all the rollers 8 projecting upwardly from the tailpieces 1 and is formed over part of its length with a central slot I2sothat'as the belt moves its slotted portion comes above the iirstroller 8 and thus pressure on the roller is removed allowing the arm orlever 4 to fall by gravity into the position in which its outer endisvisible. The continued movement of the belt will thuscause all thearms to fall in succession, thus gradually spelling out theadvertisement or notice which may extend' over anumber of successivelines.

The slot in the belt is of such a length that when the Wholeadvertisement or the like has been exposed, it remains completelyexposed for a sufficient length of time for it to be properly read,after which the solid portion of the belt begins to act on the rstlevers of the series until it gradually withdraws all the levers to theposition in which the front of the sign presents a blank surface. Assoon as the last letter of the sign disappears the slot in the beltagain becomes operative and begins to disclose once more the firstletters of the series.

It will be understood that the letters forming' the sign may be arrangedvertically instead of horizontallyand, if desired, tWo sets of arms maybe employed pivotally mounted atopposite sides4 of the casing so as toprovide a sign visible from` two sides, the arms extending in onedirection. alternating with thoseextending.. in. the` other.,`

. in sequence to spell out the lettering or the like4 Vcommon belt. Y p

Further, instead ofy employing a belt, a pairY of sprocket chains may beused with cross bars or mesh work between them at the portion whichwould otherwise be occupied by the solid portion of the belt.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs; Y

345 the sign is arranged to be visible von two` sides and the arms areadapted rto be actuated and simultaneously toY remove thejdisplayedematfter from the ,visible position.

TwoV horizontal series of letters are provided,` each series of arms 4being'moun'ted on a sep- `arateV shaft 5 and extending across the casingWith the' I, the arms of one series alternating arms of the other.

The tail pieces 1 of each series of arms extendi-nto the path of arotary cam I3 of partially cylindrical 1form, the leading edge I4 VofYwhich Aextends parallel toY the axis of rotation whilst its trailingedge I5 is inclined to said axis. Upon rotation, the leading edgeengages the series of tail pieces 'I and lifts them all simultaneously,moving the plates 6 into anY invisible 'I which are thus released insuccession allowing V position, the arms 4Vremaining in this positionuntil the trailing edge I5 passes the tail pieces the .arms to fall bygravity into thefposition in Y which the letters are'visible. Whenall'the arms .have been released the leading edgeof the Ycam again comesinto operation ,and the cycle of operations' is repeated.l Y Y 35 j Y Yable form of motorand, are geared together as The cams are positivelydriven by'any, suitfication in which the letter bearing arms arearranged in several horizontal series all of which are actuated by acommon cam I3 mounted at the rear of the arms 4 and constructed 'in aedge I5 of thecam moves pastthe tail pieces 'I ofV the'uppermost seriesofY arms, releasing the armsY of this series' successively andi allowingthem to fall so that the letterYbearing plates 6 gradually spell out theVwordsY orV message.

When the spelling of the topline is completeV the cam performs the sameoperation on the next series of arms and so on until all the enl tirelettering is exposed.

Y.leading edges VI4 all come into operation simul,

`6;', taneously whereby the lettering of .the .entire YA'furthervariation'of the above arrangement' is shown in Fig. 7 in which theletter bearing arms are arranged in a number of horizontal series, eachseriesV being actuated by a separate cam I3@ The cams are so 'arrangedthat their sign appears' tovanish suddenly, but the trailing edges I5 ofthe cams are: spaced from the leading edges Vat progressively increasingdistances from the uppermostto the lowermost cam,

the arrangement being such that each line of letteringisrexposed insuccession, and all lines re; main visible Vuntil the last letter hasbeen exV posed. The cams are geared together with the Y aid ofintermediate gear wheels II and are driven Z751. Y Y Y by an' electricor other motor.l

I Y 2,135,412 Y Y andY both sets of arms being actuatedVY by a Y V YInthe form of construction shown inFigs; 8 A

and 9, the letters of the sign are arranged verv tically, eachletter-bearing arm 4 being actuated by a separate cam I3a carried by acommon vertical spindle I 8 driven by a motor vII ,throughV gearing I9.As will be seen from Fig. 9 the cams are so mounted that their leadingedges I4a coincide wherebyV in operation all letters are moved to theinvisible position simultaneously,y

whilst the .trailing edges I5a are spaced VVfrom the leadingedges atprogressively increasing distancesfrom the Vuppermost to the lowermostcam so that the arms 4 are releasedY successively to Y 'I'his Y spellout the word or nwords of the sign.

form of the invention is also` applicable to signs' adapted' to beviewed from several sides,-two or more sets of letters being providedactuatedby a common centrally disposed set of cams. l

The invention c an also be applied to circular signs in which letteringor wording disposed in opposed groups'is adaptedfto be spelt out grad-Vually and removed suddenly. In such an ar-u rangement the pivoted leversfor the upper set of wording are'arranged in a curved series and areadapted to fall by gravity into theirV exposed positions, being raisedby means of aV mutishaft rwhich carries another mutilated disc adaptedto engage rollers Von the Vtail pieces .of the second set of levers alsoarranged yin a curved series and disposed so that the vplatesat theirYup,

per ends move-upwards .into visible' position.V

These lower levers havev weighted tail pieces which move themby gravityinto the position of Y visibilityl whilst a cam surface formed on ftheidisc engagesrcllerson the tail pieces tov move these discs toinoperative position. Bygearing two shafts together Yin the mannerdescribed the two discs rotate `in opposite directions. For the purposeof lifting all the arms simultaneous'lyY by movement appliedV to one ofthemA each is provided withra pin orv lug projecting beneath the nextadjacent lever. This arrangement also .'45 lends itself readily to theconstruction of signs ,Y Vwhich can be viewedfrom both sides, thepivoted levers and the operating discs being dupli? Y cated for suchpurpose.

The plates 6 which carry the lettering or devices may be formed integralwith the forward ends of the levers 4 or the levers may be formed in anysuitable mannerV for the attachment Vof such plates to allow forinterchangeability of Ylettering. Alternatively, instead of carryingplates fixed to the ends, the levers may carry prismatic' elements with'three ormore faces and different Vmatter marked on each face. Thisarrangement enables several different advertisements or notices to bedisplayed by one apparatus vas each time vthe levers are raised thekprismatic members at their ends may be given a partial rotation automatically so as to bring a fresh faceinto'a Vposi-l tion of potentialvisibility.` It will be understood i any oscillation. Y The improvedsign above to day or night use, as at night time the framework of theapparatus can be provided with edge,Y

illumination, or the louvres'and the plates bear,-

ingthe letters or'the like maybe made of trans` lucent material, so thatthey-.can be illuminated Y from behind. Y Y

described lends itselfV The matter which is arranged on the ends of thepivoted levers may co-operate with other lettering or designs marked onthe outer surfaces of the louvres to complete the advertisement or thelike as seen by the spectator.

It may also be desirable in some instances to employ cushions of rubber,felt or the like to receive the levers on their downward movements andthese cushions may be disposed along the upper edges of the louvres.

Where an advertisement or notice occupies a number of lines but allavailable spaces in those lines are not used, means may be provided tohold the unused levers in an inoperative position. The levers may alsobe adjustable lengthwise on a spindle so that any particular matter tobe displayed can be arranged in a position central of the apparatus.Alternatively where a sign utilizes fewer letters than can be providedby the apparatus shutters may be arranged to cover the levers which arenot actually used.

We claim:-

1. An apparatus for spelling advertisements and the like letter byletter comprising a casing having a vertical wall provided with at leastone opening, a number of independently pivoted arms bearing letteringand capable only of an oscillatory movement, said arms having extensionsthereon, and automatically operated means engaging the extensions ofsaid pivoted arms and operative to release them successively and therebyallow them to fall by gravity through said opening into visiblepositions and to rock said arms and thereby lift them back through saidopening to an invisible position after the complete statement has beenexposed.

2. An apparatus for spelling advertisements and the like letter byletter comprising a casing having a vertical wall provided with at leastone louvred opening, a number of independently mounted pivoted armscapable only of an oscillatory movement and bearing plates for letteringat their ends, and means engageable with the ends of said arms remotefrom said plates and operable to allow said arms and plates to fallsuccessively through said opening into visible positions and to lift allof said arms and plates simultaneously back through said opening to aninvisible position after a complete exposure has been made.

3. An apparatus for spelling advertisements and the like letter byletter comprising a casing having a wall provided with at least onelouvred opening, a number of independently pivoted arms carrying lettersand capable only of an oscillatory movement, said arms having extensionsthereon, and a rotary cam of partially cylindrical form, the leadingedge of which extends parallel to its axis and the trailing edge ofwhich is inclined to said axis, said extensions on the letter carryingarms extending into the path of the cam whereby engagement of saidextensions by the leading edge of the cam simultaneously rocks theseries of arms to move the letters thereon to an invisible positwo sidesof the casing, the arms of each series extending in opposite directionsacross the casing with the arms of one series alternating with the armsof the other, and common operating means for actuating both series ofarms.

5. An apparatus for spelling advertisements and the like letter byletter comprising a casing having at least one louvred opening therein,a number of independently mounted elements bearing lettering, saidletter bearing elements being arranged in a number of horizontal lines,and rotary cam means for said letter bearing elements for actuating eachline of said elements in succession and maintaining all lines of saidelements in visible positions relatively to said opening until the lastletter has been exposed and for thereafter moving the lines of lettersto invisible position.

6. An apparatus for spelling advertisements and the like letter byletter comprising a casing having at least one louvred opening therein,a number of horizontal lines of independently pivoted arms carryingletters movable through said opening into visible position, and aseparate rotary cam for each line of letter carrying arms,.

said cams being operative to actuate each line of letter carryingelements in succession to render the letters thereon visible relativelyto said opening and to remain visible until the last line has beenexposed and to thereafter move the whole series of letterssimultaneously to the invisible position.

7. An advertising apparatus for spelling advertisements and the likeletter by letter comprising a casing provided with at least one opening,a number of vertically arranged letter carrying arms independentlypivoted in the casing and provided with extensions, a number of camsinto the path of each of which one of said extensions extends, and acommon rotary spindle on which said cams are mounted, each of said camsbeing provided with a leading and a trailing edge and said cams being soconstructed and mounted that all the leading edges thereof come intooperation simultaneously to rock the letter carrying arms to theinvisible position relatively to said opening and the trailing edges ofsaid cams' to release said arms successively to spell out theadvertisement.

8. An apparatus for spelling advertisements and the like letter byletter comprising a casing having a front portion provided with anopening and a number of horizontal louvres arranged in said opening toprovide only a narrow opening between their adjacent edges, and a numberof independently pivoted elements carrying letters mounted to beprojected to a visible position in front of one of the louvres andretracted to an invisible position behind the next upper louvre.

9. An advertising apparatus for spelling advertisements and the likeletter by letter comprising a casing having an opening therein and anumber of horizontal louvres arranged in said opening to provide only anarrow opening between their adjacent edges, a number of independentlypivoted letter carrying arms mounted to be projected downwardly to avisible position in front of one of the louvres and retracted upwardlyto an invisible position behind the next upper louvre, and cushions ofyieldable material arranged to receive the letter carrying arms on theirdownward movements.

RODERICK THOMAS RICHES. GEOFFREY HENRY RICHES.

